Holder and dispenser



July 11, 1944. FLETCHER 2,353,301

HOLDER AND DISPENSER Filed May 22, 1942 v. IN VEN TOR. F'laumca J FLETCHER 772 ATLV I Patented July 11, 1944 HOLDER AND DISPENSER Maurice J. Fletcher, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to Cadet Smoke Stands Company, Des Moines,

Iowa

Application May 22, 1942, Serial No. 444,098

1 Claim.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a holder and dispenser which may be used for holding cigarettes or other items and which is economical in manufacture and pleasing to the eye.

A still further object of thi invention is to provide a holding and dispensing unit which is versatile in its adaptation and which lends itself to rapid production.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a holder for cigarettes, matches, and the like, which may be quickly and easily fabricated and assembled.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a holder for cards, sheets, plates and the like upon which may be carried information of advertising value displayed thereby.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my dispenser ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a top elevational view of my holder and dispenser.

The rincipal utilities of my device comprise a structure of the device, its adaptability to various items of merchandise, its ornamental appearance, and its advertising value. Such principalpoints will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Referring to the drawing I have used the numeral II] to indicate a base having cut therein the longitudinal groove II and I2 as shown in the drawing. The numerals I3 and I4 indicate two frame members having their miter portions abutting at I5 as shown in Fig. 1.

The numerals I6 and I1 indicate grooves or key slots cut in the frame members I3 and I 4 respectively, adjacent the miter joint I5. The numerals I8 and I9 indicate grooves cut in the frames I3 and I4. spaced from each other and opening upwardly. Into these grooves I8 and I9 are placed plates 20 and 2I, respectively, forming a receiving trough or opening therebetween to receive cigarettes 22 or similar articles. These plates 20 and 2I may be permanently or detachably mounted. It will here be noted that the space between the plates 20 and 2I can be varied according to the type of merchandise to be dispensed such as cigarettes, cigars, toothpicks, and many other articles and the plates 20 and 2I can have advertisingmaterial on their outer faces, pictures and the like and these plates 20 and 2| may be constructed of many suitable sheet materials.

To secure the two frame members I3 and I4 together and to hold them on the base I0 I have provided the key members 23 and 24. These key members are placed within the grooves II and I2 and the grooves I6 and H as shown in the drawing, thereby, holding the V shaped frame together at the miter joint I5 and supporting the frame on the base Ill.

The numeral 25 indicates a holding slot cut in the members 23 and 24 for holding a book of matches, menu, placard, or similar article.

The practical operation of my device is as follows:

The base is fabricated with the slots II and I2 therein, and the frames I3 and I4 are Placed together after which the key members 23 and 24 are placed in position. These key members may be glued in place or may be a friction fit for attachment to permit the article to be dissembled for shipment. It will here be noted that any form of keys may be used and While this particular method is particularly adaptable to commercial production any type of holding means may be substituted for the keys 23 and 24 which will adequately support the frame on the base III. When the two members 20 and 2I are placed close together and constructed of a transparent material the device may be used as a picture frame. When used as a dispenser the cigarettes or other items are conveniently placed so that they may be lifted out one at a time and the device will still retain its ornamental balance and design. Any suitable material may be used for the construction of the device and it may be made of plastic, wood, metal, glass or other material, and may be even cast as a single unit or in multiple parts out of such material. The frame members I3 and I4 may be placed together in such a fashion as to form a V shape as illustrated in the drawing or in any other appropriate manner.

Thus it will be een that I have provided a holder and dispenser which fulfills all my objects, that is versatile in its use, permits the adequate display of advertising matter and one which is simple to manufacture.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved holder and dispenser without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

A device having a flat top base member, spaced parallel grooves in the upper surface of the base, vertical plate like elongated keys fitted in the grooves, a frame having a V-shaped bottom, placed transversely across said keys, with the apex of the V between the keys, said bottom having grooves on its underside receiving said keys, the upper surface of said bottom having spaced parallel grooves transverse of said keys, and vertical plates in said last named grooves.

MAURICE J. FLETCHER. 

